22 of the Best Grand Teton Things to Do for First-Timers
Scenic stops, easy hikes, wildlife spots, and the best free hot spring.
We rolled into the Tetons in our Prius after three days of driving west from Ohio, set up our tent at a free campsite 20 minutes from the park, and watched the sun drop behind the Grand Tetons from our camp chairs
That night set the tone for the whole visit. The best things to do in Grand Teton weren’t the 10-mile hikes or a packed checklist. It was making dinner at camp while watching the sunset, slow scenic pull-offs, and easy hikes that offered views and cold lake dips. It’s the perfect National Park to spend one day in, though a second day never hurts. We stayed 3 nights since we wanted to explore Jackson, Wyoming as well.
This guide covers everything we’d plan our trip around again: the stops, the hikes, the wildlife, which tours are actually worth booking, and the best free hot spring just outside the park.
Only have one day? Our top 4 things to do in the park:
- Sunrise at Mormon Row or Schwabacher Landing
- Walk down to the Jenny Lake shoreline
- Lakeshore Trail + a cold dip at Colter Bay
- Sunset soak at Astoria Hot Springs
Planning A Trip To Grand Teton In A Hurry? Our Top Hotels:
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Must-See Scenic Pull-Offs in Grand Teton
If you do nothing else, drive.
Two roads run north to south through the park, and the best views are split between them.
Highway 191 (outer park road), farther from the mountains. The distance from the mountains is what gives it the classic postcard view of the whole range.
Teton Park Road (the inner road) hugs the base of the peaks, so everything feels closer and bigger.
Scenic Stops Along Highway 191 (South to North)
Start at Moose Junction, just north of Jackson, and head toward Moran.
1. Mormon Row
Where: Antelope Flats Road, a short turn east off Highway 191, a few minutes north of Moose Junction
Time needed: 30-60 minutes | Best time: Sunrise
The historic homestead barns with the Tetons behind them are probably the most photographed scene in the park. Expect a crowd of tripods at sunrise. If the photo isn’t your priority, come mid-morning and wander in peace. Keep an eye on the fields, since bison often graze right in front of the barns.
2. Blacktail Ponds Overlook + Glacier View Turnout
Where: Right off Highway 191, a few miles north of Moose Junction
Time needed: 15-20 minutes each | Best time: Early morning
These two sit just a couple of minutes apart. Blacktail Ponds looks down over the beaver ponds and willows along the Snake River, and it’s one of the best early-morning moose spots in the park. Just up the road, Glacier View Turnout lines up the Grand, Middle Teton, and Mount Owen, with the Teton Glacier between them.
3. Schwabacher Landing
Where: About a mile down a bumpy gravel road off Highway 191
Time needed: 30-60 minutes | Best time: Sunrise
We parked at the end of the road and followed the short trail a few hundred yards to get the best views of the Snake River that mirrors the whole range. Come early. Once the wind picks up, usually by mid-morning, the reflection is gone.
4. Snake River Overlook
Where: Right off Highway 191, north of Schwabacher
Time needed: 15 minutes | Best time: Golden hour
This is the view Ansel Adams made famous in the early 1940s, and was a must-see on our route. The trees have grown up since then and hide most of the river’s bend, but the range behind it is just as dramatic. It’s a quick pull-off, so there’s no reason to skip it.
5. Oxbow Bend
Where: About 2 miles east of Jackson Lake Junction, at the northern end of the loop
Time needed: 20-30 minutes | Best time: Sunrise
A slow bend in the Snake River that reflects Mount Moran on calm mornings. It’s one of the best wildlife spots in the park: moose most often, plus elk, otters, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, ospreys, and the occasional bear.
Along Teton Park Road (The Inner Road)
From the Moose Entrance Station north to Jackson Lake Junction, right at the foot of the mountains.
We started at the Moose Entrance and drove north with coffee in hand, stopping at almost every turnout. Teton Glacier Turnout and Cascade Canyon Turnout both put you up close to the peaks, and the sage flats around them are good for elk near dusk.
6. Jenny Lake Overlook + the Shoreline
Where: South Jenny Lake, about halfway up Teton Park Road
Time needed: 1 hour | Best time: Before 9 AM, when parking fills
The overlook gets busy, so here’s what we did instead: start at the South Jenny Lake Trailhead and follow the short path down to the water. We sat on the rocks for a long time just watching, and an eagle landed on a branch right above our heads.
Self-Guided Driving Tour of the Grand Tetons
The Best Easy Hikes in Grand Teton
You don’t need to be a serious hiker to have a great time here. These are the short, high-reward hikes we’d send any first-timer on.
8. Hidden Falls + Inspiration Point via the Jenny Lake Boat
Distance: About 2 miles round trip from the boat dock | Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Take the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake from the South Jenny Lake Visitor Center. The ride is short, and being on the water looking up at the peaks is half the fun. From the west-side dock, it’s a short forested climb to a 100-foot waterfall, then a few steep switchbacks to Inspiration Point, which looks back over the lake and valley.
Tip: in peak summer, the boat line can be long enough that hiking around the lake is faster. Go early.
9. Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail
Distance: About 2 miles, loop | Difficulty: Easy
This ended up being one of our favorite parts of the day. We grabbed sandwiches from the Colter Bay General Store, then walked the loop along Jackson Lake through pine forest and open shoreline, with the Tetons across the water the whole time. It ends at a pebble beach. The water is freezing. We got in anyway, and you should too.
10. String Lake
Distance: 3.8 miles for the full loop, or just hang at the shore | Difficulty: Easy
Shallow, clear, and warmer than the other lakes by mid-summer, which makes it the best spot in the park for swimming and paddle boarding. The full loop is surprisingly quiet once you’re past the parking lot.
11. Taggart Lake
Distance: About 3 miles round trip | Difficulty: Easy to moderate
3.8 mile loop but offers some amazing views of The Tetons and a picturesque lake in the mountains. Is a great hike to feel like you were “in” The Tetons without taking all day or being dead tired at the end of it.
12. Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve + Phelps Lake Overlook
Distance: About 2 miles round trip to the overlook | Difficulty: Easy
The quietest, most reflective corner of the park. The small visitor center is beautifully designed around sound and stillness, and the trail winds through meadows to one of the best views over Phelps Lake. The parking lot is small and fills early.
13. Cascade Canyon
Distance: About 9 miles round trip from the boat dock | Difficulty: Moderate
If Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point leave you wanting more, keep going. Cascade Canyon continues past Inspiration Point into a glacier-carved valley where moose are common.
Top-Rated Hiking Tour of the Grand Tetons
Seeing Wildlife in Grand Teton
Wildlife is everywhere here, but seeing it takes timing and a bit of luck. Dawn and dusk are everything.
14. Self-Guided Wildlife Spotting
Without a wildlife tour we still saw bison, an eagle in a tree, a moose crossing the river, a bear in the street, and even a badger at our campsite.
If you’re looking for wildlife on your own, checkout these spots:
- Blacktail Ponds Overlook: Moose in the morning.
- Oxbow Bend: Moose, otters, and sometimes bears.
- Willow Flats: Moose, and occasionally wolves.
- Jackson Lake Lodge Overlook: Elk and bison in the meadow.
- Moose-Wilson Road: Moose and bears. Drive slowly.
15. Guided Wildlife Safari
If you actually want to watch the wildlife, and not just maybe see something quickly at a turnout, book a guide. Local guides know where the animals have been showing up that week, carry spotting scopes, and handle the driving so you can actually watch the whole time.
Top Rated Wildlife Tours: Grand Tetons
The Best Tours in Grand Teton National Park
We did Grand Teton mostly on our own, but a few experiences are genuinely better with a guide. We like booking through Viator or GetYourGuide because most tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and you can see reviews and photos of what to expect.
16. Snake River Scenic Float
A calm, slow float with the Tetons in front of you the whole way. It’s great unique experience perfect for wildlife, and good for any age.
17. Wildlife Tour of The Tetons
This tour is top-rated and 4-hours long. Perfect for seeing the best parts of the Tetons and watching some wildlife.
18. Horseback Riding
A very Wyoming way to spend the day. Grand Teton has some of the best horseback riding tours of any national park.
More Top-Rated Tours of the Grand Tetons
Grand Teton Things to Do for Free
19. Astoria Hot Springs
This was our favorite way to end a Teton day. Just south of the park, natural mineral pools line the edge of the Snake River, where the hot water meets the cold current.
How to find them: Set your GPS to Astoria Hot Springs Park, but stop just before the entrance gate. Turn into the small boat-ramp parking area and follow the dirt path down to the riverbank. The pools closest to the source are the hottest, and the ones by the river are the coolest.
Bring sandals, a towel, and water. Go at sunset. Steam rising, light fading, nothing left on the agenda.
20. Camping for Free Near The Tetons
We camped two nights at Lower Teton View (Toppings Lake) in Bridger-Teton National Forest, under 20 minutes from the park. We woke up to the peaks glowing pink and drank our French press coffee staring at them. It was the heart of our whole two-month road trip.
See all 6 free campsites near Grand Teton (+ how we find them).
21. A Slow Morning in Jackson
Before heading into the park through the Moose Entrance, stop in town. We got coconut foam cold brew at Snake River Roasting Co., which has a big pastry case and good seating if you need to work. Then we picked up a wrap and pickles to split at Pearl Street Market, which also has a surprisingly great sake collection.
Tip: the Jackson Recreation Center sells a day pass that includes showers. It’s a lifesaver if you’re camping or did the free hot springs.
22. Grand Teton To Yellowstone
Yellowstone’s South Entrance is under an hour north of Grand Teton, and Old Faithful is roughly two hours from Jenny Lake. The two parks connect directly, and the same pass gets you into both. We ventured to Yellowstone after packing up camp early in the morning. The early morning drive was beautiful. We even saw a moose on our drive.
Grand Teton National Park: First-Timer’s Guide
When Is the Best Time to Visit Grand Teton?
- Mid-July through September: Trails are mostly snow-free, every road is open, and the weather is at its best. It’s also peak crowds.
- September into early October: Golden aspens and thinner crowds. Colder weather, and can have more cloudy days.
- Winter: Teton Park Road closes to cars from about November through April, and much of the park turns into a snowshoe and ski landscape.
We visited in August and it was the perfect weather to camp and hike. Layers at night, and t-shirts and shorts to hike in. Also perfect weather for a chilly lake dip after a hike.
How Many Days Do You Need in Grand Teton?
- One day is enough to see the highlights. We did the scenic drive, Jenny Lake, Colter Bay, and the hot springs in a single, full-but-unrushed day.
- Two to three days gives you room for a real hike, a guided tour, and a second sunrise.
- Four or more days lets you add Yellowstone.
Where Should You Stay to Visit Grand Teton?
It depends on your style:
- Jackson: The most restaurants, groceries, and hotels. About 20 minutes to the Moose Entrance.
- Teton Village: Ski-town lodges near the Moose-Wilson Road side of the park.
- In-park lodges: Jenny Lake Lodge, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, and the Colter Bay cabins. They book up far in advance.
- Free camping: What we did, and we’d do it again.
Lodging Map: Grand Teton National Park
Gear We Used in Grand Teton
Our Grand Teton Packing Essentials
- Bear spray: Not optional in grizzly country, even on short trails. You can’t fly with it, so if you’re flying in, buy it in Jackson.
- Altra Lone Peak Hikers: Liv’s favorite hiking shoes.
- Sun protection layer: The high-altitude sun is intense, even when the air is cool.
- Wool hiking socks: will never not wear smartwools for hiking.
- Headlamps: For sunrise starts and dark hot-spring walks.
- Stanley French press: Non-negotiable for coffee with a Teton view.
- America the Beautiful pass: It pays for itself if you’re visiting two or more parks this year.
Click here for our full tent camping checklist.
What Should You Know Before Visiting Grand Teton?
- Start before 9 AM. Jenny Lake, String Lake, Taggart, and the Rockefeller Preserve lots all fill early in summer. The light and the wildlife are better early, too.
- Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Keep it on your hip, not in your pack.
- Download offline maps. Cell service is not available everywhere within the park. If you need to, visit the Welcome Center for Wifi.
- Bring layers. Mornings are cold, afternoons are warm, and the weather can flip quickly.
- Pack food. Options inside the park are limited and pricey. We traveled without a cooler the whole trip. Here’s what we ate.
- Pets and National Parks. Pets aren’t allowed on trails in the park. The surrounding national forest is much more dog-friendly.
Grand Teton FAQ
How much does it cost to visit Grand Teton?
$35 per vehicle for 7 days, or free with an America the Beautiful pass.
Can you see Grand Teton in one day?
Yes. A single day covers the scenic drive, Jenny Lake, and Colter Bay comfortably. Here’s how we did it.
Is there free camping in Grand Teton?
Not inside the park, but there’s excellent free dispersed camping in Bridger-Teton National Forest just outside it. Our 6 favorite spots to camp.
What’s the best free thing to do near Grand Teton?
Astoria Hot Springs at sunset, hands down.
Is Grand Teton or Yellowstone better?
They’re completely different parks. Grand Teton is mountains, lakes, and hiking, and it’s easier to see in a short trip. Yellowstone is geysers, hot springs, and big wildlife, and it needs more time. If you can, do both.
Our Takeaway
The best things to do in Grand Teton are rarely the busiest. For us, it was sitting on the rocks at Jenny Lake taking in the landscape, getting in a freezing lake because you’re there, and ending the day in a hot spring by the river. Plan a few anchors, leave space around them, and let the park set the pace.
